Thursday, September 23, 2010

Having the English inlaws visit has not panned out as per last week’s expectations. It was surely a matter of time before everyone had acclimatised and I would be swanning off to the nearest girly luncheon, knitting as I soirée-ed.

So, so not. The Mr has been up-to-the-eyeballs bizzy and I’ve been helping like a mostly helpful wife, while fast running out of dinner repertoire options, with which to do bedazzling, daughter-in-law, culinary brilliance.

Worse still, not a skerrick of craft has been achieved – a first in living memory. Not only that, I have managed but fleeting, opportunistic blog lurkery and am trusting that you lovely lot are versed in the time-poor, over-committed language of telepathic commentary. I’ve been missing not throwing my oar in.

So I’m off on an official bloggy break (rather than this recent sporadic blogging bizzo) over the rest of the school hols. I’m off to study up hard and stun the inlaws with magnificent culinary achievement: croquembouche?lobster thermidore? (suggestions whipped up in less than thirty minutes heartily welcomed). Along the wayside, I’ll find me some time out and hang out with the smalls.

When I’m back in a week or so, I’m hoping for less angst – although if you spotted the guest post over at WhipUp you’ll understand there’s a whole midlife crisis to tackle. In the meantime, have a mighty fine week, you lot. I’m already looking forward to the catch up.

PS. For the befuddled, the above image is a graphic representation of how it feels to live with not a skerrick of craft for an entire week.

I wish you the best in all your endeavors. I'm quite sure that on the other end of it, it shall look altogether different. Not sure what that is supposed to mean exactly but, I am all good intentioned and wish you well.

I'm sorry things haven't been as peachy as hoped, enjoy your break & try to make the most of the holidays..I'm not the greatest to give advice on the cooking front, but my absolute favourite for simple but spuer delicious heart warming meals is Tessa Kiros Apples for Jam, love it!

That there photograph is what it feels like in blog land without you *sniff*. I do have a recipe suggestion. It takes slightly longer than 30 mins but yields enough for two meals (or one with so many mouths to feed) but the best bit is the 40 mins or so when it's in the oven and your hands are FREE! If it sounds good to you I can email it to you toot sweet!

Sorry to hear the hoped for soiree didn't pan out. Hope the break includes some crafting. Culinary brilliance is absent from my recipe suggestion but, it is a sure fire winner everytime I serve it and I find the use of a bit of coriander as garnish can lift it out of the 1970s dinner era it usually occupies. So, after that ridiculously long sentence, Apricot Chicken recipe on the apricot nectar can. I swear it is like I have passed an invention test everytime I take it somewhere. Give it a shot. Lisa x (Also going to email a sinfully easy one.)

Oh, I hear you on the mid-life crisis. I have another year and a half before my youngest hits preschool so I am trying to decide whether I struggle on with doing my day job from home (at night when the cherubs are sleeping and there are a million other things I would rather be doing) or chuck it in and face not having that security when I do want to (or rather probably have to) go back to work. On the cooking front, I have been taping junior masterchef for the kids in the hope that it rubs off on them. So far they have trawled through the cook books and found a stack of deserts they want to make (which will not help my must lose at least 10 kilos by Christmas bid) but they are not so keen on the main course bit.

Tarn, I hope you do get that break! Enjoy your special time with your kids and in-laws. I hope you get to do some crafting soon..Easy in-law pleasing recipes? Roast chicken/beef or lamb, mushroom risotto, chicken and veg pie.I pan-fried chicken breasts in Pesto and cream and served with pasta (delicious and easy).Catch you soonLove Jen xo

Good Lord... *hugs* I wasn't envious of The Visit in the first place, but now you have my entire reserve of sympathy. I hope it all works out and you get to their hearts via their stomachs.I'm attempting your chicken soup today. I have no idea how to make it, but am giving it a shot. Whole chicken on the boil as I type. Wish me luck!

Hopefully an intentional bloggy break will free up some headspace and temporal space to find a moment or two for sanity crafting!

And the weather this weekend should be good enough for a BBQ or 7 - cooking and/or dining outside seems to be always effective for impressing UK types! Marinate in the morning if required, outsource the cooking, maybe serve with a roast vege salady type thing and good bread. Easy peasy and low challenge for the time-poor!

I'm not sure whether to be happy or sad for you...perhaps the break will provide some new & exciting creative ideas?! I'm trying to read between the lines re inlaws but you are awfully cagey. Have fun impressing them with your culinary creations, pie floater perhaps? Looking forward to hearing about it all when life gets back to normal xo

It sounds like you are soooo busy! You don't really have to cook fancy stuff for your in laws do you? Also, I was wondering...what sort of holidays are you having in Australia right now? And how long do they last? Are your in laws staying during the whole holiday time?

ar, we miss you but whilst we know that it is only in our minds that we are the centre of your universe, we will pretend for the next few weeks that you are working on an environmentally wonderful communicaiton free oil rig and desperately seeking us with you mind. Inlaws, children, husband? bah humbug!(hee hee!)

That was a terrific guest post over there at WhipUp. I can so very much relate. I hope you are finding time/inspiration for things crafty. Speaking of, the only embroidery project I can think of that I'd like to do is that blowfly -- any chance you might make the design available? I'm smitten!

Oh I do hope things are settling down a bit and that you've had a chance to take a break and b-r-e-a-t-h-e!Take care - you've been missed - looking forward to having you back but only when you're ready :)

About Me

Mother of three, wife to one, designer and craftster of the slightly obsessive kind. Myrtle and Eunice were two lovely old ladies who connected weekly over the Scrabble tiles. These Saturday battles of will and skill were a ritual as comfy as a hot Milo and handknitted blanket on a frosty day.